Scholarships

South West TAFE scholarships

Applications for the SWTAFE Scholarship program have now closed. Applications for our 2026 mid-year Scholarships will open in late April.

Open Scholarships

Open scholarship

Value: Up to $1000
Criteria: any SWTAFE student

Glenormiston scholarship

Value: up to $2000
Criteria: any SWTAFE student for course-related travel or accommodation expenses, or for that student to participate in an exchange or study abroad program, with a preference for students from the Western District of Victoria.
Supported by the South West TAFE Foundation

RC Webb scholarship

Value: up to $2000
Criteria: any student studying at SWTAFE
Supported by the South West TAFE Foundation

Trades & Dairy Scholarships

Women in Construction and Clean Energy scholarship

Value: Up to $2000 in support for each remaining year of your apprenticeship, up to a maximum of $8000 over 4 years
Criteria: any woman studying a trade course including automotive, building, cabinet making, civil construction, electrical, engineering, and plumbing. This Scholarship opportunity is open to female apprentices in their first, second or third years, with a preference for students from Warrnambool and the surroundings districts.
Supported by AL Lane Foundation
Supported by AGH Foundation

Women in trades scholarship

Value: Up to $2000
Criteria: any woman studying a trade course including automotive, building, cabinet making, civil construction, electrical, engineering, and plumbing.
Supported by Portland Aluminium

ET Heard scholarship

Value: up to $2000
Criteria: any student studying at SWTAFE, with a preference for students with an interest in the dairy industry.
Supported by the South West TAFE Foundation

Regional and Campus Scholarships

Hamilton regional scholarship

Value: Up to $2000
Criteria: any student studying at our Hamilton campus

Portland regional scholarship

Value: Up to $2000
Criteria: any student studying at our Portland campus
Supported by Portland Aluminium

Sherwood Park campus scholarship

Value: Up to $2000
Criteria: any student studying at our Sherwood Park campus

Mt Gellibrand Colac regional scholarship

Value: Up to $2000
Criteria: any student studying at our Colac campus
Supported by Acciona

First Nations Scholarships

Aunty Laura Bell Scholarship

Value: Up to $2000
Criteria: any First Nations student studying a course in Training and Assessment, Education Support, Early Childhood Education & Care, or VCE & General Education.
Supported by Wurreker

Uncle Rob Lowe Senior Scholarship

Value: Up to $2000
Criteria: any First Nations student studying a Diploma course
Supported by Wurreker

First Nations scholarship

Value: up to $800 (four available)
Criteria: any SWTAFE First Nations student
Supported by Wurreker

Who can apply?

Anyone that meets the specific scholarship criteria (above) and:

is planning to or be enrolled in a full-time course at the South West TAFE
can demonstrate a strong commitment to their studies and pathway into employment
is an Australian Citizen or holder of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa

What can the scholarship be used for?

Our scholarships can support you with:

ICT equipment (eg. Laptop, iPad to use for study)
tools and equipment to use in your industry
costs associated with travelling and attending industry events (eg. accommodation, travel and tickets)
course consumable and material fees
booklist items
course fees

View the Scholarship Guidelines

How to apply

Select a scholarship, and then click Apply for a Scholarship.
We recommend you provide strong supporting detail in your scholarship application so that it stands out to the shortlisting panel. For general advice on responding to application questions, you can contact the South West Skills and Jobs Centre

Other scholarship opportunities

SWTAFE'S Access and Equity Assistance

Our access and equity assistance aims to increase opportunities for those who demonstrate a desire to participate in education and may not be able to do so due to financial hardship. Find out more and apply for assistance.

Our Community Partnership scholarships are created through the support of our community partners. They provide financial assistance to put towards the cost of courses, along with pathways to employment, higher education opportunities and internships.

Selection for these scholarships and internships vary according to the organisation. Please apply directly through the organisation’s application process.

BizCover Women in IT Scholarship
Award: AUD $5,000
Additional Opportunity: Optional 3-month paid work placement with BizCover
Eligibility: Female students in Australia currently studying IT-related degrees. SWTAFE students studying the Certificate III in Information Technology meet the eligibility criteria.

Applications Open: 1 January 2026
Applications Close: 28 February 2027

You can find more information here: https://www.bizcover.com.au/scholarships/.

Rheem Apprentice Plumber Grants
25 apprentices will receive a $3,000 grant to invest in their education and pave the way to a successful career. That’s $2,000 toward TAFE/RTO fees and a $1,000 voucher for essential tools.
There are no right or wrong answers. Rheem wants to hear your story and understand what makes you stand out. Be honest, be real, and be yourself!
Applications close 11:59pm AEST, Sunday 26 April 2026
Find out more and apply

Early Childhood Education Educator Scholarship
Scholarship opportunity for Early Childhood Educators with financial support available to upskill from a certificate to a diploma.
Find out more and apply at vic.gov.au

Australian Veterans' Children Assistance Trust Scholarship
Australian Veterans' Children Assistance Trust scholarships are for the children and grandchildren of ex-serving veterans. These scholarships are funded by ex-service organisations and private donors.
Find out more and apply

Bendigo Bank TAFE Scholarship
The Bendigo Bank TAFE scholarship is available to students living in rural and regional Australia who have been offered a full-time place at an Australian TAFE for the first time.
Find out more and apply at Bendigo Bank.

Real Futures Grant
The Real Futures Grant is an annual Australian program that has been running since 2016.
The Real Futures Grant provides the winner with a $5,000 grant and is awarded to a student pursuing a certificate, diploma, degree, or traineeship in one of the following fields: healthcare, medicine, business, or finance.
Find out more

Rural Chances Scholarship
In partnership with Youthrive Victoria, the Rural Chances Scholarship is $5000. Must be under 35 years of age, hold a Centrelink card, studying a certificate III or above, and be planning to train in a skill area where there are skills shortages in rural/regional Victoria. Find out more at Youthrive.

Gallipoli Scholarship Awards
$6000 to study a diploma-level course at TAFE. Must be an Australian citizen who is a direct descendant of a serviceman or woman who has served in the Australian or New Zealand Defence Force in any conflict or peacekeeping role since the First World War. Find out more at Gallipoli Scholarship.

2026 Academic Support Scholarships
Moyne Shire Council invites applications from students intending to commence their first year of full-time tertiary study in 2026. A total funding pool of $15,000 is available, with scholarships awarded to assist with first-year study expenses. Applications for this program close 4pm on 1 May 2026. For more information and the application form, visit: Academic Support Scholarships

Other Scholarship Opportunities
There are also several scholarships available to students studying at TAFE from other funding sources. For a listing of all available scholarships, visit the Good Universities Guide.